FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CHARDON HEALING FUND PROVIDES UPDATED BREAKDOWN OF CONTRIBUTIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS Chardon, OH (May 22, 2013) -The Chardon Healing Fund today announced an updated breakdown of donations and funds distributed and allocated in its ongoing Mission to facilitate the long-term recovery and healing of the community from the profound events at Chardon High School last year. Chardon Healing Fund As of May 1, $959,000 has been donated from individuals, businesses and other organizations. Of that total, $846,127 has been disbursed or allocated in accordance with the Fund's long-established Mission. Advisory Board Edward M. Babcock, Junction Auto Sales, Inc. David A. Boyle, Ravenwood Mental Health Center Thomas Connick, DCSTB, LLC Jenniffer Deckard, Fairmount Minerals M. Ann Fairhurst, The Cleveland Foundation Sister Jacquelyn Gusdane,SND, Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin Tracy M. Jemison, Geauga Board of County Commissioner's Kimm Lenininger, United Way of Geauga County Kristin Lewis, Fairmount Minerals Deborah O'Connor, Geauga County Public Library Ellen Ondrey, Chardon Local Schools Nearly half of the money contributed - $417,568 - has been used to benefit the six families of children killed or injured by the tragedy. Working closely with the families to identify their immediate needs, the Advisory Board for the Chardon Healing Fund has, over the past 15 months, authorized payment for such expenses as mortgages, utilities, home modifications, vehicle expenses and supportive services, as needed. In addition, the Advisory Board has earmarked $250,000 for anticipated, long-term behavioral health care needs related to the tragedy. Mental health experts, school districts and other organizations that have experienced similar tragedies have continuously warned of the heightened risks for suicide, drug addiction and other ongoing trauma-related concerns which will continue for years. These earmarked funds will be used for a variety of counseling, preventative services and training/education to help mitigate these risks down the road as the community continues the long healing process. The Advisory Board has also allocated $90,000 to cover a portion of a three-year contract for a school resource officer who will be available to support students and staff members at the high school. Suicide prevention training at the high school, along with Trauma Informed Care Training and other trauma training and support programs for local mental health experts totaling $46,513 was also covered by the Fund. The final category of disbursements thus far is school and community healing. Within this category, the Advisory Board has approved the expenditure of $42,046 for such valuable initiatives as Cognitive Behavioral Intervention Therapy training and implementation for teachers and students in the high school. The Fund also paid for an array of educational sessions in the community to help deal with trauma and provide information on how to seek help. Currently, $112,873 remains unallocated in the Fund. Although the Fund is administered by United Way Services of Geauga County, all funding decisions are made by the 11-member, all-volunteer Advisory Board that consists of community and business leaders. United Way donates all services and support to the Fund and receives no compensation whatsoever in its role as administrator. Funding decisions continue to be guided according to the Fund's original mission and have not deviated since the inception of the Fund on February 28, 2012. The Chardon Healing Fund was not intended to try and compensate the families of the victims for their grief and loss. It was designed to address the immediate needs of the families directly impacted by the event and to foster the ongoing emotional and physical wellbeing of the students and staff of Chardon Local Schools. The Chardon Healing Fund is a direct result of the enormous generosity of not only individuals and businesses within our own local community, but also across the country. The Fund continues to exist as a conduit of support for all those afflicted by the Chardon tragedy. For more information, visit www.chardonhealingfund.org. Our Mission To facilitate the long term recovery and healing of the community from the profound events at Chardon High School, we commit to the following: ~first and foremost, to address the needs of the families directly impacted by the event effectively, and ~to foster the on-going emotional and physical well-being of Chardon School system students, staff and the greater community. Administrative support provided by: